Poll for those who ride clipless

[HappyAnika]

Ok, I'm a little late on this, but I wonder if there is a correlation between which foot you unclip with and which side of the bike you get on. I think I'm weird in that I have my bike on my left side before getting on, so I swing my left leg over. (But when I'm walking with it, it's on my right side, which means lots of shuffling before getting on). I'm right handed and I unclip with my right foot. Another thing I'm "backward" on is that when I sling a bag over one shoulder, it's always my left, don't know if that has anything to do with anything . . .

[Eden]

I've started wondering if I habitually clip out with my right foot because that leg is longer? My coach put a whole pile of shims in my left cleat a few months ago when she determined that one was shorter.

[RoadRaven]

Well, I swing over the frame with my right leg, and I clip in first with my right foot, and give the first down-push of power onto my pedal with my right foot/leg...


But as I said on the previous page, always unclip on the left...

LOL, you ambidextrous gals... I'd just outsmart myself and do slo-mo falls ALL the time if i didn't keep it predicatable!!!

[hurleygirl]

You know, I haven't thought about this for a while but..

I'm right handed and naturally unclipped the right foot.

But, to prevent the "Cat 5 Tattoo" I switched over to my left foot after several years of unclipping the right foot. I had absolutely no trouble with the switch.

Asking me to reach for my water battle with my left hand is a whole different story. That should be the next poll.

[suzieqtwa]

I unclip with my right foot ,and Im right handed...my left foot never comes out of the clip in less Im getting off the bike.

[Cyclebird]

Hi,

I'm a beginner and am learning to use clipless pedals. I've had a very trying time with falling. This thread has me thinking that maybe my problem is related to clipping out on the right when in most situations, my left leg is dominant. I've had my LBS look at the cleats and pedals to see if they can part more easily. Now, they do. I really would like to master clipping out. Will try the left on my next ride. Ah,ha!

[KnottedYet]

My left leg is dominant, but I prefer to clip out with the right leg. When I go for the water bottle I use my right arm (I'm left arm dominant.)

I figure I like to leave my dominant arm and leg in control of the bike (cuz in my mind that's the important stuff) and the the non-dominant side do the goofy stuff.

[Lise]

I'm right handed, and unclip ambidextrously. I unclip whichever foot needs to go down at the time. Usually that's the right, to stop at a curb/stoplight, but sometimes it's the left, if I'm in the left turn lane, for example.

So I couldn't participate in the poll, because it's only my feet that are ambidextrous! I'm pretty aggressively right handed. I used to say that my left hand was there for decoration only, but then I began to appreciate all the things my left hand does. It does a lot. Props to the left hand.

[lph]

I haven't read the whole thread ('net is really slow here today, maddening) but I unclip my left though I'm right-footed because I want my right leg and right hand controlling my bike when I push off.

But I'm not sure if being right-handed necessarily means you're right-footed. Which foot would you pefer to use to boot a football across a field? In my case definitely the right, therefore both right-handed and right-footed.

[GLC1968]

I haven't read the whole thread ('net is really slow here today, maddening) but I unclip my left though I'm right-footed because I want my right leg and right hand controlling my bike when I push off.

But I'm not sure if being right-handed necessarily means you're right-footed. Which foot would you pefer to use to boot a football across a field? In my case definitely the right, therefore both right-handed and right-footed.

LPH - I've always questioned the 'left-footed' thing too. I write with my right hand, and I kick with my right foot...but I naturally skate and do gymnastics as a left-hander (meaning I spin, jump and 'tumble' more dominantly in the same direction as someone who is left-handed). I think a lot of it is learned though. When I first learned to drive a car, I could only drive with my right hand. Now I drive predominantly with my left (I prefer a standard transmission so I had to learn). When I was a kid, I started learning to write with both hands but the nuns at my school told me to pick a hand and I picked my right (no idea why). From that point on, they made me use my right hand so that I wouldn't get confused. When I snowboard, I go both ways - so it's always confusing when I rent one. When I shoot, I hold the gun with my right, but I sight with my left eye. I learned to play the guitar left-handed but the viola right-handed. I'm a total mess!!!

This is partly why I did the survey...I couldn't tell anything from my own messed up experience!!

[Rumblefish]

I'm righty and unclip right first. I've no better rationale than it's just what was comfortable for me. I always start off with my left foot clipped in.

My boyfriend is a lefty and he generally unclips left first. His sister-in-law is right handed and she unclips left first. His brother...I'm not so sure.

I've noticed that if someone is in front of me and they unclip I will unclip whichever side THEY unclipped even if it's left. Kinda strange...

My BF (and eternal bike tutor) encourages being comfortable with unclipping from either side because there will be moments when you can't unclip your preferred side first so you should be able to unclip well from both sides. Sounds great in theory but I've had quite a few sloppy stops trying to practice unclipping my left foot first I'm still trying though!

[cosc]

My body is definitely not ambidextrious. Last time my left cleat was stuck due to new pair of shoes, I thought no prob, I'll just slow up and let my right one unclip for a change--all was well until my dismount on the asphalt.

[Lise]

I always start off with my left foot clipped in.

I always clip in with my left first. But clipping out varies by context!

[Aggie_Ama]

I asked my husband and apparently he unclips by which foot he feels is appropriate. If we are stopped where there is a curb, it is the right foot. Otherwise he usually prefers the left foot. He never ends up with the mark of a true Fred by unclipping his right foot.

I always swing my right leg over and clip in with it first. As I said before, I always unclip with my left.